Iran blames U.S. and Israel responsible for renewed fighting in Syria challenging Assad regime

Iran claimed Monday that the U.S. and Israel are behind the renewed fighting in Syria that has seen anti-government forces recapture Aleppo, the country’s second-largest city, in a fast-moving offensive that has surprised forces loyal to President Bashar Assad.

Some 900 U.S. military personnel remain in a remote region of Syria as part of the ongoing international mission to prevent a resurgence of the Islamic State terror group. On Monday, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said the presence in Syria of Islamic State forces and allies is a result of the U.S. military being there.

“The U.S. military presence in Syria is a violation of certain principles and laws of Syria, and the continued presence of terrorists in Syria is a result of the U.S. presence in that country,” Mr. Baghaei said, according to the official Islamic Republic News Agency. “If the purpose of the U.S. military presence in Syria is to fight [ISIS], then what is the group doing in Syria? How is the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group operating in Syria?”

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, known as HTS, is a Sunni Islamist political and armed organization battling the Assad regime in the country’s 13-year-old civil war. Formed in 2017 after a merger of several anti-government groups largely bottled up in the northern province of Idlib, HTS launched a surprise offensive last week that resulted in the capture of Aleppo. The U.S. and several other countries have designated HTS as a terror group.

Iran and Russia have mobilized in support of their ally, Mr. Assad, but the insurgents claim to be seizing more land on the ground.

The Iranian government spokesman said the renewed fighting in Syria, combined with the ceasefire in Lebanon between Tehran-backed Hezbollah forces and Israel and with recent remarks by American officials, all suggest close coordination between Washington, Jerusalem, and the terror groups.

“Over the past 14 months, the Zionist regime has increased its attacks on Syria in order to damage Syria’s capabilities and equipment,” Mr. Baghaei said. “The genocide in Gaza and the aggression in Lebanon have paved the way for terrorist groups to prepare in different regions of Syria, and the history of [HTS] group shows that the ‘Zionist regime’ has supported these terrorists to weaken Syria.”

On Monday, Pentagon officials urged all sides in the fighting in Syria to pull back. 

“In light of the significant potential for harm to the civilians and minority groups in the region, the United States along with other allies and partners is urging de-escalation,” Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, a Pentagon spokesman, told reporters on Monday. “We remain fully prepared to defend and protect our personnel and assets deployed to the region, including our forces deployed in Syria that are singularly focused on the enduring defeat of ISIS.”